North Texas Dentistry Volume 8 Issue 5 2018 ISSUE 5 DE | Page 5

Texas A&M College of Dentistry
Driven to Serve
11 years, 43 volunteer dental missions, and one
AAOMS Humanitarian Award for this chief resident
by Michael C. Jackson
After a couple of days at the gym, Dr. Wade Barker, a 2013
Texas A&M College of Dentistry graduate, was hooked.
His experience in a Houston-area high school gym all those
years ago set him on a course that he says he’ll continue to fol-
low for the rest of his life. But Barker’s time in this particular
gym, he says, had nothing to do with workout equipment or
basketball hoops.
Instead, the space was occupied by 40 dental chairs and
patients — 800 over two days — who had come for much-
needed, donated care from volunteer dentists and students.
“I was immediately hooked,” says Barker, who at the time was
an eager volunteer and junior at Texas A&M University.
Now, years later, Barker is a graduate student in the oral and
maxillofacial surgery program at Texas A&M College of Den-
tistry where he continues to donate his time to care for patients
around the state and beyond.
For his dedication to service and in recognition of thousands of
donated hours, Barker earned the 2018 Humanitarian Award
from the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Sur-
geons during its 100th Annual Meeting in Chicago on Oct. 10.
“This is something I’m very proud of,” Barker says. “It’s very
humbling to be recognized, especially because the award is from
an organization that oversees our specialty.”
Barker credits the Texas Dental Association and the organiza-
tion’s partner, TDA Smiles Foundation, for supporting volun-
teer opportunities for professionals such as himself, who offer
treatment to patients who otherwise couldn’t afford it.
Through the foundation’s program, Texas Mission of Mercy,
Barker has served in leadership roles to help organize patient-
care trips around the Lone Star State and as far as Crique Sarco,
a jungle village in Belize.
“Wade is truly committed to serving those less fortunate than
himself,” Dr. Matthew Burks, a dental school classmate, said in
Barker’s nomination essay. “He donates a significant amount
of time and personal financial resources to set up and provide
care at these charitable dental events. He has attended at least
43 of these events over 11 years serving the foundation.”
Dr. Michael Giesler, past chair of the TDA Smiles Foundation,
recalls an anecdote that he says sums up Barker’s dedication.
TMOM volunteers were in Belize working with Kekchi Indians
in the southern part of the country, in Punta Gorda. A male
patient had arrived at the clinic where they were working, and
the patient’s condition was terribly complicated. He had a
severe bleeding disorder and a painful tooth infection. Giesler
had advised against removing the man’s molar, which couldn’t
be restored.
But Barker persisted. He called a local hospital to secure the
medication necessary for clotting which, to their surprise, was
delivered right away.
“The clotting agent was used, and the tooth was removed safely
and successfully,” Giesler says. “That required intelligence, sur-
gical skill, compassion and a dogged perseverance.”
Dr. Jon W. Williamson, a fellow alumnus and a mentor who
supervises TMOM trips, says Barker is undoubtedly a deserving
recipient of the recognition, and “an all-around nice human
being,” to boot.
“He is a knowledgeable, caring and compassionate oral max-
illofacial surgeon,” Williamson says. “It’s great having him on
the TMOM team.”
Texas A&M College of Dentistry (formerly Baylor College of Dentistry) in Dal-
las is a part of Texas A&M University and Texas A&M Health Science Center.
Founded in 1905, the College of Dentistry is a nationally recognized center
for oral health sciences education, research, specialized patient care and
continuing dental education. Learn more at dentistryinsider.tamhsc.edu or fol-
low @TAMUdental.
Michael C. Jackson is a communications strategist and journalism instructor.
He has worked as a staff writer for the Dallas Morning News and held posi-
tions with the University of Texas System, Texas A&M System and Richland
College. Michael holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from Bucknell Uni-
versity and a master’s in journalism from Columbia University.
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